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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Checking on the Colonel, by Kimberly LewisYarn: Malabrigo Worsted, Ibiza, approx. 130 yardsNeedle: Size 7 circularTime: 10 daysRecipient: possibly, my very sweet neighbor (or possibly me if it's not her style)Thoughts: Upon first glance, the FOs on ravelry did not sell me on making this pattern. However, I decided to try it with the variegated yarn. I love the result. The hat is larger than most of the ones I've made, and it works well. It fits differently, as it's not a "skullcap" (Dean refers to most of my hats in this way; I don't think he means it in a complimentary way). I probably won't make this pattern again, but it was a fast knit and is easy to follow.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Saturday, December 27, 2008

My mom has been patiently waiting for a knitted item, and finally received something this Christmas.

Details:

Malabrigo Hand Thingies, by Anne Sahakian (ravelry link)Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted, Purple Mystery, approx. 90 yardsNeedle: Size 6 dpnsTime: 1 weekRecipient: my momThoughts: I loved this pattern. It knit up incredibly quickly, and the variegated (I wouldn't call it semi-solid) looks so neat in the slip-stitch pattern. I will definitely use this pattern again, and I may even make myself a matching pair, as they were hard to part with. My mom received them Thursday, so I don't have to keep them a secret anymore!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

I've been chugging away on my sweater, and I'm really pleased with it so far. Tomorrow, I will move all my little stitches to scrap yarn and try it on before I start increasing. I think I could finish the entire sweater before the end of the year if I really push myself, but a lot can happen over the next 9 days. I really love the way this yarn feels and looks. I think I've settled on a solid sweater, no stripes, although, who knows? I could surely change my mind again.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Olias is a terror. I love him, and I will stick it out for the good times, but oh. He is the best birth control ever. He tests my patience like no other. In the few weeks since we found him, he has destroyed the bottom of my bedsprings, he chewed a big hole in the cowl I just finished for my grandmother (luckily, I think I can salvage it, but I haven't tried yet), he has claimed my fingerless gloves for his own, and last, but not least, he managed to tackle our tree and wrestle it down to the ground. We obviously weren't home to capture the crime, as we would have stopped him from doing it, but here's the proud cat sauntering around once we got home.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Darkside Cowl, by Sarah Fama (free pattern on Ravelry)Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted, Snow Bird, approx. 170 yardsNeedle: Size 7, KP circularTime: 3 weeksRecipient: my grandmotherThoughts: I finished this cowl in two knitting sessions. It's very cozy, and the variegated Malabrigo is a great complement to the rib and welt stitch design. I would use this again for another gift, although I don't think I'm really the cowl type. I'm pleased to have a nice offering for my grandmother at Christmas. I believe she'll really enjoy it. As for the yarn, I don't really have to repeat myself on the joys of Malabrigo, do I? Even my boyfriend now knows the name of my favorite yarn, and that's saying something.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

I'm really trying not to buy yarn, but I had a moment of weakness a couple of months ago. There's a yarn store, Yarns 2 Ewe, jus a few minutes from work. I went one Friday during my lunch break. It's so relaxing, and as stressed as I've been lately, well, no excuses, really. Malabrigo is my weakness.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

I joined a group on Flickr called Sunday Stash. A fellow blogger, 1/4 of an inch invited me to join. It's easy; you just post a stash picture on Sundays! Can't get any less complicated than that.

So here's my initial post:I purchased this fabric from Bee Square Fabrics about six months ago. In fact, a couple of the fabrics you see have already been used up. The majority of these are by Lecien, the My Folklore line, which I adore.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

In retrospect, although I'm very proud of Something Red, I doubt I will wear it very often. It doesn't fit me, not really. It's sort of gapey in the boob area, and it just doesn't feel flattering. I like the color I chose, and I think the knitting is decent, but it just doesn't fit.

The reason is clear now, and I think I know how to fix it. When working the increases, I kept increasing well past the point that I needed to stop for my body. This is an obvious realization for most knitters, but there you go.

I now know what a sweater should look like when it's time to separate the sleeves. I'm taking this new found knowledge in my next sweater attempt (even though I have a vest and my Central Park Hoodie on the needles, I know), Pink, by Wendy Bernard. I just got Wendy's book, Custom Knits, and the first design is a basic raglan sweater. I decided this is a good place for me to try again, and hopefully end up with a better fitting sweater that I can wear regularly.

I cast on with one of the first yarns I purchased, Berroco Touche. It's so soft, and the color is really rich. It knits up beautifully. I'm not sure about stripes (the design features a couple of stripes on one sleeve), but I've got three possible yarns to use for that purpose.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Jenny is moving to China for a year. She got an awesome job, a really amazing opportunity, and I will miss her like crazy. She's my favorite sushi buddy, and a wonderful friend. I made her this scarf to keep her warm, as she's used to our lovely Houston climate.

Details:ScWiNoNa, by WeezalanaYarn: Knitpicks, Wool of the Andes, Black Cherry Heather, 2 skeinsNeedle: Size 7, straightTime: 1 monthRecipient: JennyThoughts: The pattern is easy to memorize, and really looks lovely. Both sides are attractive. I don't know if I'd make this again, though, as scarves aren't really my thing. This is a great and FREE pattern, though-highly recommended.

Monday, December 1, 2008

I started this cowl a couple of weeks ago, not really having a recipient in mind.

I worked on it a bit Thanksgiving night at my grandparents', and my grandmother commented on it. I'm now working to complete it by Christmas (which won't be too difficult), and it will be hers. Funnily enough, when I bought this colorway of Malabrigo (still my favorite yarn-love it), I thought of my grandmother. It's called Snow Bird, and my grandmother loves to watch the birds outside her home in the country. She feeds them year round, and sits by the window in the winter, working puzzles and watching the birds. The colorway is vibrant, and difficult to photograph. I'm eager to finish it so she can wear it through winter and hopefully, for years to come.

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This blog is a collection of my amateur attempts to knit, sew, cook and do other crafty stuff. I live in Houston with my husband and three cats, Bella, Olias and Fitzgerald. You can contact me at parandroid7 at gmail dot com. You can find some destash and handmade goods in my etsy shop, at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Jaceycraft